Galatians # 25 Gal 5-22 thru 5-25
Today we’re going to go on with the 8th fruit of the spirit listed here in (GAL. 5:23) and that’s “Meekness.” This word can also be translated “Humility” or “Humble.”
I) “MEEKNESS” is not “WEAKNESS.”
A) Meekness sounds a lot like weakness, but they are nothing alike.
1) I think people are a little afraid to call themselves ‘MEEK,’ because others might confuse it with the qualities of being weak.
a) There is nothing wrong with being weak; as a matter of fact it can be good to be weak.
(i) 2COR 12:9‑10
b) When you realize you’re weak, then you can be made strong in God’s strength.
(i) (ZECH 4:6) Says, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.”
(ii) I like to say it like this, “It’s not by OUR might, nor by OUR power, but by HIS spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.”
2) There is a difference between Meek and Weak. The opposite of Weak is Strong. When we realize that we can not do it in our own strength, then we have to depend on God’s strength.
3) The opposite of Meek is Pride.
a) Look at PRO 16:18
(i) (PRO 11:2) Says, “{When} pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly {is} wisdom.” (KJV)
(ii) (PRO 29:23) Says, “A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.” (KJV)
(iii) In others words “The humble in spirit will be honored.”
B) There are quite a few people in the Bible who are Meek but definitely not weak.
1) JOHN 2:13‑16
a) Jesus was definitely not weak, but He was Meek.
b) In (HEB 12:2) it says, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of {our} faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (KJV)
(i) It was a humbling experience for Jesus to go to that cross.
c) (2COR 10:1) Says, “Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence {am} base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:” (KJV)
d) Jesus was humble. And if He was, then it’s also an attribute of God.
(i) Jesus was led as a lamb to the slaughter, but he also cleansed the temple with a whip.
2) 2COR 4:4
a) Jesus is the image of God. Jesus said, “If you’ve seen me you’ve seen the Father,” in (JOHN 14:9).
b) Jesus has the same character of the Father.
3) NUM 12:3
a) Moses was Meek yet he was 1 of the greatest leaders that ever lived.
(i) Yet even in the 1st 2 Vs of (NUM 12) when Aaron and Miriam made an accusation against Moses, Moses didn’t retaliate even in the slightest.
b) Turn with me to EXO 32:17‑20. That doesn’t sound like someone who is weak to me.
c) The Bible tells us in (1PET 3:4) that a meek spirit OR a humble spirit, in the sight of God is of great price.
4) There are other examples of great men of God who were also meek or humble.
a) We have Stephen in (ACTS 7:60) where he was praying for those that were about to murder him. But in a few Vs back in (V 51) he said to them, “Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.” MEEK but NOT WEEK
b) We have Joseph in (GEN 50).
c) Saul in (1SAM 9).
d) David in (1KINGS 3).
e) John the Baptist in (MAT 8).
f) Paul in (1TIM 1). And others.
(i) All these people that we just mentioned had a ZEAL for GOD, but MEEKNESS as to self.
II) Now we are to practice MEEKNESS, HUMILITY.
A) MAT 18:4
1) We are to humble ourselves, and if we do we will be great in the Kingdom of God.
2) James says something similar to that in (JAMES 4:10) Which says, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”
a) Nowhere are we told to pray for humility, we’re told to practice it, and when we do God will lift us up.
b) (1PET 5:5) Says, “To be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” (KJV)
c) If you need more Grace, Humble yourself.
III) We have a need to be Meek.
A) GAL 6:1
1) Backsliders, if they repent, are to be restored in a spirit of Meekness and their wrong doings Forgotten, just as God forgets our sins.
a) This is a warning from God, if we don’t stay humble, we will be caught up in a spirit of Pride, and Pride will cause you to fall.
B) If someone asks us a question or if they are even trying to argue against the Gospel, we are still to answer them with Meekness.
1) 1PET 3:15
a) To argue and strive in a contentious spirit is likely to make the person deny the Truth, even if they see it.
C) We ourselves are to receive the Word of God with Meekness.
1) JAMES 1:21
a) It happens all too often when we have heard something before; we get a Haughty spirit. [I’ve heard that before.]
2) Paul said to Timothy in (2TIM 1:6), “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance.”
3) And Peter said in (2PET 1:12), “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know {them}, and be established in the present truth.” (KJV)
a) Meekness ensures that our heart’s soil is Good and that it will yield a good harvest.
b) Meekness ensures receptiveness to the Word of God.
(i) That means that it has to lay down all REBELLION IN SPIRIT, and have a readiness to receive and OBEY THE WORD at any cost.
(ii) Pride says that I know all there is to know on any given subject, where as a MEEK man will try to always attempt to learn more even if it is a subject they are well versed in.
IV) There are rewards of Meekness.
A) (PSA 22:26) Says, “The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.” (KJV)
B) The NIV translation of (PSA 25:9) Says, “He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.”
C) Probably the most famous promise on the subject of Meekness is (MAT 5:5), “Blessed {are} the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” (KJV)
D) Turn with me to this one last scripture.
1) PRO 22:4
2) The NIV says, “Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life.”
TFC and WOLCC 8/26/94 Sun AM and WOLCC Thursday, November 06, 1997